NHL: Rangers slip past Thrashers in Playoff opener
{{date|April 12, 2007}}

''Rangers lead series 1-0. (Best of Seven)''
{{MatchScore|New York Rangers|4|3|Atlanta Thrashers}}
{{Stanley Cup Playoffs 2007}}

The New York Rangers scored the first two goals and never looked back, defeating the Thrashers before 18,857 at [[w:Philips Arena|Philips Arena]] in Atlanta, Georgia. The game was the first in the best-of-seven series. Never since their inception into the NHL in 1997, have the Thrashers advanced to the playoffs until this season, and will have to wait for their first ever playoff victory. Despite a desperate last minute power play, Atlanta couldn't manage to beat Rangers goaltender [[w:Henrik Lundqvist|Henrik Lundqvist]], who has shined this season. Lundqvist was solid again tonight, stopping 21 of 24 shots faced. 

[[w:Pascal Dupuis|Pascal Dupuis]] of the Atlanta Thrashers was sent into the boards in the first period, and had to come off the ice for some time before returning to score the game's final goal. [[w:Kari Lehtonen|Kari Lehtonen]], goaltender for the Thrashers entered the game with a 2.79 goals-against average. Lehtonen allowed four goals, while stopping 34 shots.

== Scoring Summary ==
{| border=1 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 1em 1em ; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; width:98%; border-bottom: none;" align=center
!colspan="7" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-collapse: collapse; border-top: none;"|<center>Scoring Summary</center>
|- style="background: #e9e9e9"   
! No. !! Period !! Time !! Team !! Scorer (No.) !! Assists !! Score
|- 
|1 || 1st || 12:50 || NYR || Jaromir Jagr (1) || Michael Nylander, Fedor Tyutin || 1-0
|-
|2 || 1st || 16:47 || NYR || Michal Rozsival (1) '''PP''' || Martin Straka, Jaromir Jagr || 2-0
|-
|3 || 1st || 19:01 || ATL || Eric Belanger (1) '''PP''' || Niclas Havelid, Keith Tkachuk || 2-1
|-
|4 || 2nd || 10:52 || NYR || Marcel Hossa (1) || Fedor Tyutin, Michael Nylander || 3-1
|-
|5 || 2nd || 12:19 || ATL || Shane Hnidy (1) || Brad Larsen, Pascal Dupuis || 3-2
|-
|6 || 2nd || 16:56 || NYR || Michael Nylander (1) || Petr Prucha, Thomas Pock || 4-2
|-
|7 || 3rd || 5:50 || ATL || Pascal Dupuis (1) || Brad Larsen, Bobby Holik || 4-3
|}

== Goaltending ==
{| border=1 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 1em 1em ; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; width:98%; border-bottom: none;" align=center
!colspan="7" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-collapse: collapse; border-top: none;"|<center>Goaltending</center>
|- style="background: #e9e9e9"   
! Team !! Player !! Shots !! Saves !! Save Pct. !!
|- 
|NYR || Henrik Lundqvist || 24 || 21 || .875
|-
|ATL|| Kari Lehtonen|| 38 || 34 || .895
|-
|}

== Three Stars of the Game ==
* '''#1''' = [[w:Jaromir Jagr|Jaromir Jagr]], C, ''New York Rangers'' - 1 Goal, 1 Assist
* '''#2''' = [[w:Pascal Dupuis|Pascal Dupuis]], LW, ''Atlanta Thrashers'' - 1 Goal, 1 Assist
* '''#3''' = [[w:Michael Nylander|Michael Nylander]], C, ''New York Rangers'' - 1 Goal, 2 Assists

== External links ==
* [http://www.newyorkrangers.com Official Website of the New York Rangers]
* [http://www.atlantathrashers.com Official Website of the Atlanta Thrashers]
* [http://www.nhl.com National Hockey League Official Website]

== Sources ==
* [http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20062007/GS030131.HTM NHL Online ReportViewer - Game Summary]
* [http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20062007/ES030131.HTM NHL Online ReportViewer - Event Summary]
* [http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20062007/PL030131.HTM NHL Online ReportViewer - Play-by-Play]
* [http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/boxscore;_ylt=AuS3pw7EYJHK1gy3ANCBpaR7vLYF?gid=2007041228 Yahoo! Sports Boxscore - New York Rangers 4, Atlanta Thrashers 3]

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:National Hockey League]]
[[Category:Stanley Cup Playoffs 2007]]
[[Category:Atlanta, Georgia]]
[[Category:Ice hockey]]
Rangers lead series 1-0. (Best of Seven)

The New York Rangers scored the first two goals and never looked back, defeating the Thrashers before 18,857 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The game was the first in the best-of-seven series. Never since their inception into the NHL in 1997, have the Thrashers advanced to the playoffs until this season, and will have to wait for their first ever playoff victory. Despite a desperate last minute power play, Atlanta couldn't manage to beat Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who has shined this season. Lundqvist was solid again tonight, stopping 21 of 24 shots faced. 

Pascal Dupuis of the Atlanta Thrashers was sent into the boards in the first period, and had to come off the ice for some time before returning to score the game's final goal. Kari Lehtonen, goaltender for the Thrashers entered the game with a 2.79 goals-against average. Lehtonen allowed four goals, while stopping 34 shots.
North America United States Sports National Hockey League Stanley Cup Playoffs 2007 Atlanta, Georgia Ice hockey